The person may become alienated from family and acquaintances.Ĭomplications. The disorder is extremely incapacitating and results in failure to maintain financial solvency or provide basic support for oneself or one's family. It waxes and wanes, but tends to be chronic. The disorder usually begins in adolescence in males, and later in life in females. People with this disorder are often overconfident, very energetic, easily bored, and 'big spenders' but there are times when they show obvious signs of personal stress, anxiety, and depression.Īge at onset and course. When borrowing resources are strained, antisocial behavior in order to obtain money is likely. There is no serious attempt to budget or save money. As the gambling increases, the person is usually forced to lie in order to obtain money and to continue gambling. Generally, people with Pathological Gambling have the attitude that money causes and is also the solution to all their problems. Characteristic problems include extensive indebtedness and consequent default on debts and other financial responsibilities, disrupted family relationships, inattention to work, and financially motivated illegal activities to pay for gambling.Īssociated features. Problems that arise as a result of the gambling lead to an intensification of the gambling behavior. However, in Pathological Gambling anyĪctivity increase during periods of stress. Problems with gambling are often associated with Antisocial Personality Disorder and in Pathological Gambling antisocial behavior is frequent. When manic-like mood changes occur in Pathological Gambling they typically follow winning. In social gambling, gambling with friends is engaged in mainly on special occasions and with predetermined acceptable losses.ĭuring a manic or hypomanic episode loss of judgment and excessive gambling may follow the onset of the mood disturbance. Pathological Gambling and Alcoholism are more common in the fathers of males and in the mothers of females with the disorder than in the general population.ĭifferential diagnosis.

The disorder is apparently more common among males than females.įamilial pattern. These may include: loss of parent by death, separation, divorce, or desertion before the child is 15 years of age inappropriate parental discipline (absence, inconsistency, or harshness) exposure to gambling activities as an adolescent a high family value on material and financial symbols and lack of family emphasis on saving, planning, and budgeting.

Suicide attempts, association with fringe and illegal groups, and arrest for nonviolent crimes that may lead to imprisonment are among the possible complications. The individual may become alienated from family and acquaintances and may lose what he or she has accomplished or attained in life.Ĭomplications. The disorder usually begins in adolescence and waxes and wanes, tending to be chronic. These individuals most often are overconfident, somewhat abrasive, very energetic, and 'big spenders' but there are times when they show obvious signs of personal stress, anxiety, and depression.Īge at onset and course. There is a conscious intent to return or repay the money.Īssociated features. AnyĬriminal behavior-e.g., forgery, embezzlement, or fraud-is typically nonviolent. When borrowing resources are strained, antisocial behavior in order to obtain money for more gambling is likely. As the gambling increases, the individual is usually forced to lie in order to obtain money and to continue gambling, but hides the extent of the gambling. Characteristic problems include loss of work due to absences in order to gamble, defaulting on debts and other financial responsibilities, disrupted family relationships, borrowing money from illegal sources, forgery, fraud, embezzlement, and income tax evasion.Ĭommonly these individuals have the attitude that money causes and is also the solution to all their problems. The gambling preoccupation, urge, and activity increase during periods of stress. The essential features are a chronic and progressive failure to resist impulses to gamble and gambling behavior that compromises, disrupts, or damages personal, family, or vocational pursuits. Disorders of Impulse Control Not Elsewhere Classified: Pathological Gambling

Pathological gambling preoccupation